To Live is the Rarest Thing

Chapter 21

Harry managed to keep it together, thankfully, but his mind was racing with a lot of questions. “I’m Jack Bird,” Harry said as he sank down on the seats beside Neville. “And I’m your Potions professor for the year.”

Even though the life they were living as themselves again was very similar to their first one, there had always been small changes. A waterpark in Surrey that hadn’t existed before. Barty Crouch Jr still imprisoned in Azkaban. Evan Rosier still alive until Harry used him up to resurrect Tom. And probably many more things that Harry and Tom hadn’t noticed yet.

Harry couldn’t help but wonder what was different about Hermione’s family tree, but of course he wasn’t going to ask because ultimately it didn’t matter.

“Potions? Really? I’ve read the whole book already and it seemed a little wishy washy at first but the more I read the more I started seeing the patterns of how the different ingredients work together,” Hermione rambled as she looked at Harry with wide, adoring eyes.

This Hermione was still obviously the Hermione he knew and loved and that was all Harry needed to know.

“Yeah,” Harry agreed with a warm smile. “Brewing is much like cooking. The more you do it, the better you become and the more the recipes start making sense.”

“I’m just glad Snape isn’t there anymore,” Neville whispered, looking like he wasn’t sure if he was allowed to speak at all. “He isn’t, right? Because I heard some horrible things about him from a second cousin.”

“Professor Snape is taking a sabbatical this year so you don’t have to worry about him.” Harry couldn’t hold back a chuckle at Neville’s instantly relieved expression. “Snape may have a bit of an unpleasant personality, but he takes his potions very seriously and he’s one of the most gifted Potions Masters I know. He was my Master when I was working towards my own Mastery,” Harry said when it looked like Hermione might burst with all the questions she had for him.

“So which Houses are you hoping to get sorted into?” Harry asked, to change the subject. And to perhaps give one of his old friends a nudge in a different direction.

“Gryffindor!” Hermione all but yelled. “I heard it’s the best House.”

“You’d be wrong,” Harry said at once, though he softened his words with a small smile. “All Hogwarts Houses are great. Let me guess. Minerva McGonagall, the Head of Gryffindor House, came to deliver your letter and she told you her House was the best.”

Hermione frowned, looking like she wasn’t quite sure where Harry was going with this.

“Now imagine for a second if Professor Flitwick, the Head of Ravenclaw House had delivered your letter instead,” Harry continued while Hermione’s face did a few interesting things as she understood the point Harry was making.

“Then I would be sitting here saying Ravenclaw was the best House,” Hermione finished for Harry with a triumphant look. “Oh, that makes so much sense.”

“Now I can tell from just talking with you for a few minutes that you are a very intelligent girl who loves to read,” Harry said. Hermione ducked her head at hearing those compliments. “These are qualities that won’t be appreciated in Gryffindor House. In fact, those qualities would make you into a bit of an outcast in that House. But Ravenclaw would welcome someone with those qualities with open arms.”